The number of students in secondary vocational education and higher professional education is declining. Especially in healthcare, education and technology. That is very worrying.
These are precisely sectors in which there will be plenty of work to be found in the coming years, if not decades. It is clear that students are not guided by that perspective.
The MBO Council and the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences are sounding the alarm. They welcome fewer students, while we will need many hands in healthcare, education, housing construction and the energy transition in the coming years. To name a few sectors.
On the one hand, due to demographic developments, the inflow of young adults will decrease, while the outflow will increase significantly as they reach retirement age. You don’t need to have an MBO or HBO diploma to see how big the problem is and how much bigger it is getting.
Slick campaign on TikTok works better
Outgoing minister Dijkgraaf tried to turn the tide by sending a letter to 200,000 final-year HAVO and VWO students. He drew their attention to the existence of MBO courses. He also made it clear to them that ‘our country’ is coming to a standstill due to a lack of professionals. They are desperately needed.
The question is whether a fatherly letter by post is a suitable means of conveying this message. A slick campaign on TikTok would be much more effective for this target group.
But we’re not there yet. More than 30 percent of first-year students in secondary vocational education drop out. They actually have no idea why they are starting a certain course. Better and more targeted information is therefore very important.
Appreciation is also measured by the salary
Focus your attention on those training courses that produce the professionals that society so desperately needs. You could even reduce the tuition fees for such courses or grant a bonus for obtaining a diploma.
In addition, there is a complaint that society has too little appreciation for professionals. Anyone who measures this appreciation against the salaries paid in, for example, healthcare or education can only confirm this.
Anyone who is actually concerned about future shortages on the labor market cannot close their eyes to the low salaries. Anyone who appreciates professionals should also pay them well.
You do not need to have an MBO or HBO diploma to know that a good salary for all those professionals will have a positive influence on the intake for these courses. A letter from the minister alone will not get us there.